Axially split bobbin with upper, and lower, semi-cylindrical interlocking sections for reed relays



Dec. 20, 1966 R. K. ELSE ETAL 3,293,578

AXIALLY SPLIT BOBBIN WITH UPPER, AND LOWER, SEMI-CYLINDRICALINTERLOCKING SECTIONS FOR REED RELAYS Filed Jan. 6, 1966 INVENTORS l2 2'n" I 1! ROBERT K. ELSE 2 I iii! 5 [Mk 26 BY ANTHONY J. WILKIS Z I! Ill;

UL W V &

AGENT United States Patent 3 293,578 AXIALLY SPLIT BdBBIN WITH UPPER,AND

LOWER, SEMI-CYLINDRICAL INTERLOCK- ING SECTIONS FOR REED RELAYS RobertK. Else, Glen Ellyn, and Anthony J. Wilkis, Downers Grove, TEL,assignors to Automatic Electric Laboratories, Inc., Northlake, IlL, acorporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 6, 1966, Ser. No. 519,067 3 Claims.(Cl. 335152) This invention relates to relays and more particularly toreed-type relays.

In the design of new products, ease of manufacture is an importantconsideration. Frequently an essential requirement is that, in order toreduce the cost of manufacturing, the product lends itself readily toautomated fabrication. This is particularly true in the case ofcomponents, such as reed relays, large amounts of which may be requiredfor an individual system installation.

The reed relay according to this invention is one which has beendesigned specially with ease of fabrication in mind, but withoutsacrifice of performance features which are essential in reed relays,e.g., desirable and uniform operating characteristics, reliability andlong life, to name just a few.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide aneconomical, improved reed type relay which lends itself well toautomated fabrication.

A preferred embodiment of the reed relay according to this invention,which is shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, has, as one of its features anaxially split bobbin with upper and lower, semi-cylindrical interlockingsections. As shown in that figure, this reed relay is designed forprinted circuit board mounting, but other types of mounting may also beused.

The lower bobbin section of the reed relay according to this embodimenthas at each end thereof lower flange halves. integrally molded therewithare two platform portions, one on each end of the bobbin section. Theupper bobbin section which also comprises at each end thereof, an upperflange half, has integrally molded therewith four arms, two extendingfrom each end of the bobbin section. Straight strip terminals areinserted into the platform portions and the arms. Reed switches areinserted into each bobbin section and welded to respective terminals soas to retain the reed switches in their respective bobbin sections. Theupper and lower bobbin sections, each having two reed switches therein,are then joined.

Terminals from the upper bobbin section are received and extend throughapertures in the platform portions of the lower bobbin section. Afterthe sections are joined, the bobbin area defined by the mated flangehalves is then wound with an energizing coil.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become moreapparent by reference to the following description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the lower bobbin section of a reed relayaccording to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the upper bobbin section of a reed relayaccording to the invention.

FIG. 3 is an end view of an assembled reed relay, according to theinvention, which is shown plugged into a printed circuit board.

Looking now at FIG. 1, lower bobbin section has at each end thereof alower flange half, such as 24. Extending from each lower flange half 24is a platform portion 12. As can be seen, there are a plurality ofapertures such as 13 passing through each platform portion. Terminalssuch as 14 are also inserted into platform portions 12. These terminals14 are used to connect up reed switches such as 16, located in lowerbobbin section 10 on either side of dividing rib 15. The free ends ofreed members such as 17 of the reed switches are preferably welded toterminals 14, however, any suitable method of connection may be used.

Coil terminals such as 22 are also provided as termination points forcoil 23, shown in FIG. 3, which is wrapped about the assembled relaybetween the mated flange halves, such as 24 and 25.

FIG. 2 shows the upper bobbin section 11 which will be joined with lowerbobbin section 10, as shown in FIG. 3. Upper bobbin section 11 has ateach end thereof upper flange halves such as 25, and extending therefromand integrally formed therewith, arms such as 18. Terminals such as 19are inserted into and supported by arms 18 as shown. These terminals 19are used to connect up reed switches, such as 16, located in upperbobbin section 11 on either side of dividing rib 15.

FIG. 3 shows an assembled reed relay according to the invention. Thisparticular embodiment is shown plugged into printed circuit board 26where it may be used as a crosspoint device in a switching matrix asshown, for example in US. Patent 3,188,423, assigned to the sameassignee. However, the relay according to the invention is not limitedto this use. Here upper bobbin section 11 has been joined with lowerbobbin section 10 so that projections such as 28, formed as part of theupper bobbin section, fit into shoulder portions 27, formed as part ofthe lower bobbin section. In addition the sections are locked intoposition by means of pegs such as 21 molded on upper bobbin section 11,and apertures 20 formed in lower bobbin section 10.

As mentioned above, the reed relay according to this invention wasdesigned so that it could be fabricated by automatic means.

A detailed description will now be given of the manner in which a relayaccording to the invention is automatically assembled.

To begin with, each bobbin section is molded separately. This enablesthe manufacturer to use a twoway mold rather than the more complexfour-way draw mold. Thus a savings in time and cost can be achievedimmediately. Next, straight strip terminals are automatically insertedinto both the platform portions 12 on lower bobbin section 10 and arms18 extending from upper bobbin section 11. Terminals 19 inserted intoarms 18 are longer than terminals 14 because they must be able to passthrough apertures 13 upon assembly of the two bobbin sections. Theseterminals 19 are also bent after they are inserted in arms 18 toaccommodate the reed switches 16, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

After the terminals are in place, the reed switches are automaticallyinserted into their respective bobbin sections, and welded at the freeends of their reed members 17 to respective terminals. It will be notedthat each bobbin section is independent of the other section. Once theWelding is completed, the reed switches are secure in their respectivebobbin sections. At this time, the upper bobbin section is locked inplace on the lower bobbin section as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings.Terminals 19 pass through apertures 13 in platform portions 12,respectively and pegs 21 are inserted into apertures 20.

Finally, the energizing coil 23, shown in FIG. 3, can be automaticallywound about the bobbin area between mated flange halves 24, 25respectively, and terminated at coil terminals 22. If more than one coilis wound about the relay bobbin, insulation can also be automaticallywound between such windings as necessary.

Thus, because of the design of the relay according to the invention, itis easily assembled automatically, thereby saving cost and time whichwould normally be spent on manual assembly of an ordinary reed-typerelay.

In addition, once the relay is in use, if it becomes necessary toreplace a reed switch, the terminals to which the reed switch isattached are merely severed and the reed switch slides out from eitherend of the bobbin.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes andmodifications may be made without departing from this invention in itsbroadest aspects and therefore the aim in the appended claims is tocover all such changes and modifications as in the true spirit and scopeof this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A reed relay comprising:

an axially split bobbin having upper and lower interlocking sections,

said upper and lower bobbin sections respectively having upper and lowermating flange halves on each end thereof, each of said lower flangehalves having a platform portion extending therefrom with at least oneaperture therethrough,

said upper bobbin section having upper flange halves on each endthereof;

at least two reed switches located within said upper and lower bobbinsections, respectively;

a first pair of terminals connected to said reed switch in said lowerbobbin section and mounted in and extending through said two platformportions, respectively;

4 a second pair of terminals supported by said upper bobbin section,connected to said reed switch in said upper bobbin section, and havingfree ends extending through said apertures in said two platformportions, respectively;

and a coil wound about said bobbin between said flanges.

2. A reed relay as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said upper flangehalves includes at least one arm extending therefrom and wherein one ofsaid second pair of terminals is mounted in and extends through each ofsaid arms, respectively.

3. A reed relay as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lower flange halveseach include at least one aperture therein, wherein said upper flangehalves each include at least one peg extending therefrom, and whereinupon the joining of said upper and lower bobbin sections, said pegs arereceived by said apertures, thereby interlocking said bobbin sections.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1965 BengtssonZOO-87 12/1965 Marks 20087

1. A REED RELAY COMPRISING: AN AXIALLY SPLIT BOBBIN HAVING UPPER ANDLOWER INTERLOCKING SECTIONS, SAID UPPER AND LOWER BOBBIN SECTIONSRESPECTIVELY HAVING UPPER AND LOWER MATING FLANGE HALVES ON EACH ENDTHEREOF, EACH OF SAID LOWER FLANGE HALVES HAVING A PLATFORM PORTIONEXTENDING THEREFROM WITH AT LEAST ONE APERTURE THERETHROUGH, SAID UPPERBOBBIN SECTION HAVING UPPER FLANGE HALVES ON EACH END THEREOF; AT LEASTTWO REED SWITCHES LOCATED WITHIN SAID UPPER AND LOWER BOBBIN SECTIONS,RESPECTIVELY; A FIRST PAIR OF TERMINALS CONNECTED TO SAID REED SWITCH INSAID LOWER BOBBIN SECTION AND MOUNTED IN AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID TWOPLATFORM PORTIONS, RESPECTIVELY; A SECOND PAIR OF TERMINALS SUPPORTED BYSAID UPPER BOBBIN SECTION, CONNECTED TO SAID REED SWITCH IN SAID UPPERBOBBIN SECTION, AND HAVING FREE ENDS EXTENDING